Canadian Solar, Inc. announced it has been awarded a contract to provide solar panels for a new 2.1 megawatt solar power installation at St. Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The project is scheduled to begin construction in October, 2011.
The hospital will invest $9M in the project, and will realize substantial savings in its energy cost over the next several decades. Economic benefits from the project include revenue from New Jersey's unique solar renewable energy credit program, a federal tax credit and substantially reduced electricity costs. Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), the local utility, has helped finance the project through its solar loan program. By generating its own solar power, the hospital can control its energy costs and insulate itself from increasing utility rates.
"This solar project is one of the largest and most advanced in the state", said Mark Warner, CEO of Sun Farm Network, the company that will design, build, and maintain the system. "This is a world class health care facility with demanding requirements, and St. Peters Hospital is leading the market through their use of parking lot canopies to produce clean, renewable power. We considered several suppliers for this project, but Canadian Solar was the clear winner based on a combination of excellent product and strong business support. Projects of this scale and complexity are best served through a partnership between global leaders such as Canadian Solar, and local experts like the Sun Farm Network. We are proud to be working with Canadian Solar to make this inspiring project a reality for St. Peter's Hospital".
Comprised of nearly 10,000 Canadian Solar 6P 240P solar panels, the installation will produce roughly 2.3 million kilowatt hours of clean, renewable energy per year and is expected to eliminate 78 million pounds from the hospital's carbon footprint over a 20-year span. The installation will consist of six separate solar arrays: two rooftop arrays, three parking lot solar canopies and a further solar canopy on the top deck of a multi-floor parking structure. In addition to supplying the hospital with cost effective renewable energy and helping reduce pollution in New Jersey, the canopies will also provide shade for patients' cars while they seek treatment.
"Hospitals are often energy-intensive facilities, and we are pleased to work with Sun Farm Network to provide technology that will help St. Peter's Hospital deliver excellent care to New Jersey residents while significantly reducing its carbon footprint and reliance on traditional energy sources," said Dr. Shawn Qu, CEO of Canadian Solar, Inc. "Sun Farm Network has a decade of experience delivering market leading projects of this type, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with one of the leading companies in the state on such a sophisticated project. This partnership exemplifies Canadian Solar's commitment to expanding our U.S. operations and to making quality solar products available to customers in the Northeast."